2012 NFL Draft Grades: Instant Analysis for Draft's Top Picks

The 2012 NFL Draft is finally underway in New York City, and before the big event even got going Thursday evening, another trade involving a top-five selection transpired, as the Minnesota Vikings picked up a trio of picks from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for moving down one spot in the first round.

The deal between the Browns and Vikings injected some excitement into early-round proceedings that had been largely predetermined this year, and here's an early knee-jerk look at how the top handful of teams fared with their first draft selection of 2012.

1. Indianapolis Colts

The Pick: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

This pick has been all but a certainty ever since the Colts locked up the first overall selection in the 2012 draft, and before Luck's name had even been spoken by commissioner Roger Goodell, details on the Stanford signal-caller's contract were already leaking out.

It's hard to find much not to like about Luck after a storied Stanford career in which he threw for over 9,300 yards and 82 touchdowns. The 6'4" quarterback may not possess the sheer upside of Robert Griffin, but his experience in a pro-style offense in Palo Alto makes it much less likely he'll faceplant as a pro.

Grade: A

2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis Rams)

The Pick: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

The man dubbed "The Prince of D.C." by one of his new teammates is now officially a member of the Washington Redskins, as the team used the second overall pick that cost a king's ransom to select the quarterback everyone knew they wanted.

The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner oozes athleticism, and while the transition to a pro-style offense will bring with it some bumps in the road, Washington's aggressive play to acquire him has energized the fanbase in D.C..

Surrendering their next two first-round picks and this year's second rounder to move up four spots was an exorbitant price to pay the St. Louis Rams, but in a league driven by quarterbacks Mike Shanahan was apparently tired of watching Rex Grossman hit trees.

GRADE: A-

3. Cleveland Browns (from Minnesota Vikings)

The Pick: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

The Cleveland Browns apparently do not share Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown's opinion that Alabama bellcow Trent Richardson is an "ordinary" player.

Just before the 2012 draft got underway, the Browns shipped the fourth, 118th, 139th and 211th pick to the Minnesota Vikings to insure that they would secure the services of last year's Doak Walker Award winner.

From a pure talent perspective this is a great pick for Cleveland, as the 228-pound Richardson will provide a desperately needed boost to a Browns offense that was painful to watch.

However, Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman may have hoodwinked the Browns a bit into believing that another team was going to leapfrog Cleveland and snatch up the Alabama star, and the price Spielman extracted in doing so knocks a bit of the luster off the pick.

GRADE: A-

4. Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland Browns)

The Pick: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Minnesota Vikings were not only able to pick up a trio of later draft picks in a deal with the Cleveland Browns, but the team was also able to address what was possibly their top need in this year's draft, acquiring the best tackle prospect after allowing the fifth most sacks in the NFL last year.

This was as close to an absolute home run as the Vikings were going to get, as the team reportedly did not want to move down any farther than fifth overall to insure that they would get either Kalil or cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Kalil will almost certainly start on Christian Ponder's blindside from day one, and the second-year signal-caller likely just breathed a big sigh of relief because of it.

GRADE: A+

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

The Pick: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

In a top 10 that will surely be remembered for the trades that dominated and shuffled the action, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't want to be left hanging. The Jaguars took quick and decisive action, dealing a fourth-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the rights to draft the two-time Biletnikoff winner.

There are some pundits that didn't even feel that Blackmon was the top wideout in this year's draft class. However, given the dearth of weaponry available to quarterback Blaine Gabbert in the passing game, anyone with a pulse would have been an upgrade, and the minimal price that Jacksonville paid to get the player they wanted hardly factors in.

GRADE: A-